International Journal of Trend in Scientific
Research and Development (IJTSRD)
UGC Approved International Open Access Journal
ISSN No: 2456 - 6470 | www.ijtsrd.com | Volume - 1 | Issue – 5
Evaluation of the Cognitive Level in Adults over 60 Years
López Lazcano Sara B.
Universidad Insurgentes,
México
López Lazcano Judith N.
Universidad de la República
Mexicana, México
Muñoz Martiñon Rodolfo
Universidad de la República
Mexicana, México
ABSTRACT
The objective of the present study is to assess
cognitive level in adults over 60 years. To carry out
this research, a population study was applied and a
representative sample was calculated using a 95%
confidence level and a 5% error allowed. The MMSE
instrument was used to achieve the stated objective.
When comparing the two delegations, it is observed
that there is a slight difference of affectation in the
population, giving Iztapalapa the delegation affected
by the 4.36% of its population on Iztacalco.
Keywords-instrument
Cognitive
level,
adultsand
MMSE
INTRODUCTION
The increase in the life expectancy of the population
has brought with it an increase of the diseases that
appear in old age, being important to investigate those
factors that cause physical incapacity and associated
with an intellectual deterioration affecting directly the
quality of life of the patient . Chronological age in
itself is not a rigid determinant of intellectual
deterioration, since it is the result of a progressive
functional loss or senile pathology, in addition it is
important in the maintenance of intellectual capacities
the persistence of the use of these ( Motivation) being
a brake or delay to its involution (Matamala, Pizarro
and Ponce, 2013).
Pinzon and Chuquizán (2014) point out in their work
that the cognitive is that which is related to
knowledge. This, in turn, is the accumulation of
information that is available thanks to a learning
process or to experience. Ecured (2017) mentions that
cognitive / cognitive development focuses on thought
processes and behavior that reflects these processes. It
is the basis of one of the five perspectives of human
development accepted mostly (the other four are the
psychoanalytic perspective, the learning perspective,
the evolutionary / sociobiological perspective and the
contextual perspective).
Healthy aging belongs to a semantic field that has
been growing widely in recent years, based on the
global demographic change, which has established a
new consideration of aging. Traditionally, old age was
thought of as a stage of cognitive loss. It is now stated
that the aging process is characterized by being a
multidimensional and multidirectional process, there
is a great variability in this process and the cognitive
plasticity and it maintains the long wing of the whole
life being possible to reach a healthy adulthood and
free Of disability. In 1987 one of the most influential
definitions on the ways of aging is proposed, dividing
this concept into three main categories: usual aging
refers to those individuals who would exhibit an
average decline of cognitive functions, not
pathological, only determined by age . Successful
aging indicates the set of people who exhibit a
minimal loss at the cognitive level when compared to
younger subjects. Health conditions, optimal physical
functioning, and good cognitive functioning prevail in
the different studies. (Fernández, et al., 2010)
Greenwood and Parasuraman (2010) point out that in
spite of the large number and diversity of studies
concerning cognition in adulthood, there is a certain
consensus in them about areas that are frequently
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International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470
impaired in normal aging. Firstly, the slowing down
in information processing and the decrease in
attentional capacity. Changes in these cognitive
functions begin early, around 40 years of age, where
the decline in the speed of responses to different
external stimuli and the ability to maintain care for
prolonged periods of time would begin. As a
consequence, older adults would take more time to
perform various cognitive tasks and tire more quickly
than younger people. It would be evidenced, as the
age advances, a decline in the capacity to control the
contents of the working memory, to exclude relevant
information and to delete contents that are no longer
important, secondly, a great amount of investigations
have tried to determine the Impact that aging has on
memory. In this cognitive area not all facets would be
affected in the same way, nor in the same degree.
There would thus be relatively preserved memory
systems, while others would be highly susceptible to
the effects of age. Explicit memory would be more
affected than implicit memory, and within explicit
memory, episodic memory would suffer more decline
than semantic memory. This last system would
continue increasing from the 35 to the 40 years until
the 55-60, moment in which would begin to descend
of more gradual form.
For its part, the Instituto Superior de Estudios
Sociales y Socio sanitarios (s / f) notes that it is a fact
that, as we grow older, we are losing many capacities
and others are decreasing until reaching very low
limits. One of the most well-known cases that
happens when reaching old age is cognitive
impairment. Continuing with the ideas of the same
author, he mentions some causes of the cognitive
deterioration, among which they stand out:
 Changes in relation to society. One of the main
factors that affect the loss of faculties is to isolate
oneself from the world around them and not have
contact with other people. This loneliness causes a
lack of interest and lack of interest that ends
directly impacting on people's abilities, and of
course, in memory, causing it to decrease.
 Psychological changes. The psychology of each
one directly affects the mental faculties of the
person. On the one hand stress disorders or
depression can make the wear of neurons is
greater, thus, causing memory loss. On the other
hand, the negative thoughts about not being able
to perform actions associated with old age make
that many older people do not try to improve and
to perform the actions that before they could do. It
is necessary to take into account that with old age,
regardless of the deterioration or not, there are
faculties that are inevitably slowed, with what
must be assumed to be normal and not be carried
away by the pessimism of not feeling as vigorous
as years ago.
 Changes in the body. Finally, there are specific
changes of the organism that lead to the suffering
of a more severe cognitive degeneration. Loss of
neurons and rapid non-regeneration of neurons,
loss of sight with inability to recognize objects
properly ... are some of the changes in the body
that can affect the cognitive deterioration of a
person
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
Evaluate the cognitive level of patients two centers
located in different delegations within Mexico City by
taking the screnning test the Minimental State
Examination (MMSE).
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
 Evaluate in two delegations the cognitive
deterioration, in this case Iztapalapa delegation
and Iztacalco delegation.
 Applying the test to adults over 60 at random in
both delegations, a small interview that consists of
a MMSE, is a test that can be used to know the
cognitive state Of adults in a systemic and
comprehensive way. It consists of 11 questions
that check some areas of cognitive functioning,
orientation, recording or attention of memory as
well as the speech of each of the 60 year olds.
 Apply 150 tests in each delegation with 90%
reliability, which will be analyzed and compared
to each other.
 Evaluate the evidence from both delegations to
conclude on which delegation is highest the
percentage and which is lower.
 Know which delegation prevails between both, the
percentage of damaged in their cognitive state that
exists in each delegation, and the percentage that
does not suffer cognitive impairment.
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International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470
JUSTIFICATION
METHODOLOGY
The reason for the test is to know in depth the
cognitive state of the population that is included in the
age of 60 and 90 years. The purpose is to conclude
through statistical methods the prevalence of mental
health problems that afflict the population of Mexico
City. In different areas between them Ramos Millán
and Santa Martha Acatitla, since according to my
visual appreciation not all the elderly, that comprise
between that parameter of ages have a problem of
mental health. That is why the respective surveys will
be carried out, so that they can later be graphed and
thus know exactly what percentage of the population
has cognitive problems, as well as the level of
dementia that each of the adults interviewed.
The calculation of the sample for the calculation of
the sample was used the formula proposed by Dr.
Herrera (2012) who proposes for a finite sample the
following:
z2 * N * p * q
n 2
i * ( N  1)  z2 * p * q
Where:
n = Sample size
N = Total population
Z = value corresponding to the gauss distribution
p = expected prevalence of the parameter to be
evaluated, if not known (p = 0.5)
q = 1- p
i = error expected to be committed
The formula developed is shown below:
n
(1.96) 2 * 245 * 0.5 * 0.5
(0.05) * (245  1)  (1.96) * 0.5 * 0.5
2
2
The analysis of the above formula shows that for the
study, using a 95% confidence interval, a margin of
error of 5%, a probability of success of 0.5 and a
probability of failure of 0.5, 150 people must be
surveyed.
INSTRUMENT USED
According to the Universidad Complutense Madrid.
(S / f) indicates the following characteristics of the
test used in the investigation, which are the following:
 Name: Mini Mental State Examination
 Original name: Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE)
 Authors: Folstein, Folstein and McHugh
 Versions: There are reduced versions and versions
that can be administered by phone (TelephoneAssessed Mental State, TAMS, Telephone
Interview for Cognitive status, TICS)
 Spanish adaptation: Lobo, A .; Saz, P et al., 2002

235.298
235.298

 149.83  150
0.61  0.9604 1.5704
 Type of instrument: test
 Objectives: Detection of cognitive disorders.
 Population: Elderly or other people in whom
cognitive impairment is suspected.
 Number of items: 30 questions
 Description: It briefly evaluates the mental state
and allows to observe the progression of the
cognitive state.
 Evaluate the following areas: orientation in space,
time, coding, attention and concentration,
memory, language and visual construction.
 Quality criteria:
 Reliability: The internal consistency of the
instrument ranges from 0.82-0.84. Its interdependency reliability is 0.83 in patients with
dementia, 0.95 in patients with different
neurological disorders, and 0.84-0.99 in elderly
residents. As to their intraclass correlation
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International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470
coefficients, they range from 0.69 to 0.78 in
elderly subjects. The inter-agreement level
reached Kappa = 0.97 for 5 evaluators. Its
reliability test-retest - between one day and nine
weeks - reaches indices ranging from 0.75 to 0.94
in patients with dementias; 0.56 in patients with
delusions; And 0.60-0.74 in patients with
schizophrenia. As expected, reliability declines
over time, especially in the elderly and with
disorders.
 Validity: Significant correlations of MMSE with
various measures of intelligence, memory and
other aspects of cognitive functioning have been
observed in a wide variety of populations, using
instruments such as the Weschler Adult
Intelligence Scale (WAIS), Weschler Memory
Scale, Concentration and Memory Scale (IMC),
Clock Drawing Test, Alzheimer's Disease
Assessment Scale (ADAS-COG), or Dementia
Rating Scale (DRS). The test has also been linked
to the Daily Life Activities Index (ADL), finding
the best cut-off point in 23 for this type of task.
The Mental Mini maintains good correlations with
other measures such as the clinical evaluation of
an expert, the assessment of nursing, with levels
of needs, etc. Some studies have found significant
scale correlations with biological damage
identified by computed tomography, MRI, or
autopsy.
 Application time: 5-10 minutes.
 Application standards: The evaluator is
demanding the tasks (say in which country,
province ... is, etc) to the person and the person is
responding or performing the requested questions
or tasks.
Table 1 represents an example of the Gantt diagram of
the project.
Table 1: Example of Gantt Diagram.
ACTIVITY
1
2
MONTH
3
4
5
6
PLANNING OF THE INVESTIGATION.
APPLICATION OF THE EVALUATION
INSTRUMENT
SAMPLING EVALUATION.
CONCLUSIONS OF THE INVESTIGATION.
RESULTS ANALYSIS
The results obtained were as follows. First the results
of the people of the Iztacalco delegation are
presented. Table 2 represents the score obtained in the
test (left column) and the number of people that
obtained this weighting (right column).
Table 2. Example of Results
CALIF. ONT.
4
5
5.6666
6
7
7.3333
7.6666
8.3333
8.6666
9
9.3333
9.6666
10
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FRECUENCIA
1
1
2
2
7
2
2
5
10
4
29
16
69
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International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470
Figure 1 represents the results obtained from the
analysis of the study, where 84.98% of the individuals
studied do not suffer from any cognitive deterioration,
whereas 15.02% of the people studied suffer some
cognitive deterioration.
whereas 19.38% of the people studied suffer some
cognitive deterioration.
GRAFICA % DE IMPACTO
GRAFICA % DE IMPACTO
0
0
0 00
0
15.02
19.38
0
84.98
80.62
Figure 2: Example of Results.
Figure 1: Example of Results.
The results of the people of the Iztapalapa delegation.
Table 3 represents the score obtained in the test (left
column) and the number of people that obtained this
weighting (right column).
Table 3: Example of Results
CONCLUSION
As a result of the research that was carried out on the
application of an instrument to detect the cognitive
state in elderly people, with a range of age between 60
to 90 years.
It was carried out randomly in two Iztacalco and
Iztapalapa delegations, with the following results:
Iztacalco
Figure 2 represents the results obtained from the
analysis of the study, where 80.62% of the people
studied do not suffer from any cognitive deterioration,
Statistical analysis shows that 84.98% of this
population does not suffer from any cognitive
deterioration, with an average score of 8.2 over the
minimum grade of 6.0 from the maximum of 10,
15.02% of this population has a cognitive impairment
with An average rating of 4.88 on the qualification
destined to be failing in the minimum range of 4 to
5.999.
It is concluded that 90% of the population does not
suffer from cognitive deterioration and for this reason
performs all their basic and instrumental activities of
daily life and 15.02% suffer from some type of
deterioration that limits some of their instrumental
activities His life, example: to make purchases, to use
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International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (IJTSRD) ISSN: 2456-6470
the telephone, to inhale his medicines and to have a
socially active life.
Iztapalapa
For this delegation the statistical analysis shows that
80.62% of this population does not suffer from any
cognitive deterioration having an average rating of
7.99 on the approval rating range from 6.0 to the
maximum of 10, 19.37% of this population has a
deterioration Cognitive with an average rating of 4.99
on the qualification destined as reprobatoria in the
minimum range of 4,333 to 5,666.
It is concluded that 80.62% of the population does not
suffer from cognitive deterioration and for this reason
performs all their basic and instrumental activities of
daily life and 19.37% suffer from some type of
impairment that limits some of their instrumental
activities of their lifetime.
When comparing the two delegations, it is observed
that there is a slight difference of affectation in the
population, giving Iztapalapa the delegation affected
by the 4.36% of its population on Iztacalco.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
M.I.I. Arturo González Torres for his advice,
mentoring and project management.
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ANNEXED:
EXAMPLE OF THE COGNITION STATUS MEASUREMENT INSTRUMENT
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